Diesel Engine Repair Service

How Diesel Engines Work

Built with durability, reliability, and optimization in mind, diesel engine systems are designed to use their own compression to ignite fuel. The rate of compression in a diesel engine is more than three times that of a regular gasoline engine system. In a diesel engine system, the air is compressed at a high compression ratio, which introduces a great amount of heat. Following this compression, fuel is directly injected into the cylinder, where the fuel vapor is ignited. Diesel engines are built without spark plugs. Instead, diesel systems use glow plugs to start and run more efficiently in colder temperatures. Glow plugs have two heating elements that allow them to get very hot very quickly for fast starts. Turbochargers increase the compression ignition by quickly compressing the air flowing into the engine, allowing for more air to flow into the chamber. More air in the combustion chamber means more fuel can be added to the combustion process. Turbochargers provide diesel engine systems with improved efficiency, and ultimately, more miles per gallon of diesel fuel.

Signs That You Need A Diesel Engine Repair

Your diesel engine plays a major role in your vehicle, so it is especially important that you be aware of problems and seek repairs immediately. Because diesel engines make a considerable amount of noise during normal, everyday operation, diagnosing diesel engine problems can be hard to do if you are listening in on the engine. However, there are a number of symptoms you can watch out for that indicate your diesel engine needs maintenance including a diesel engine running at lower RPMs or a hard-to-start engine are signs of low fuel pressure, but these signs may also be symptoms of an insufficient fuel supply or poor fuel quality.

Diesel Engine Repairs and Tests

At Ramona Tire, we can take care of all your automotive needs, including a diesel engine repair service. If your engine is malfunctioning, bring it in for an inspection.

Allowing our staff to troubleshoot your diesel engine can help ensure that the proper repair procedures are followed. Every diesel engine manufacturer requires different preventive maintenance procedures, so referring to your owner’s manual will help in planning and scheduling routine maintenance services. Keeping all diesel engine components—glow plugs, fuel injectors, and turbochargers—in proper working order will increase the life of your diesel engine system while promoting overall vehicle maintenance.

We offer the following services and tests at our locations:

Excessive Noise Diagnostic

If your diesel engine is making abnormal or excessive noise, allow us to set you up with an excessive noise diagnostic service. When a diesel engine begins making more noise than the standard roar, it’s important to quickly pinpoint the problem. By identifying a faulty component early, we can help prevent damage to other parts of your engine and save you time and money. After discovering the root problem, our staff will work with you to determine the best next steps to take in order to fix your engine and prevent future noise disturbances from occurring again.

Excessive Smoke Diagnostic

If your engine is emitting excessive smoke of any color, allow us to perform an excessive smoke diagnosis. Our expert staff will identify the cause of your vehicle’s smoke and help correct the problem. When you bring your vehicle to us, we can review how well the fuel is burning and check the state of your oil. Our employees are accustomed to diagnosing the possible causes of excessive smoke in diesel engines. We understand the relationship between the color of the smoke and your engine’s problem, and we will use our knowledge to identify the particular issue plaguing your vehicle.

Glow Plug Replacement

Without a functioning glow plug, a diesel engine will have trouble igniting fuel in the combustion chamber. Over time, your glow plugs will wear out and need to be replaced. Faulty glow plugs may fail to ignite the fuel in your engine, and they can lead to idling and unwelcome smoke emissions. If your glow plugs are acting up, bring your vehicle to us and our service staff will replace the bad glow plugs.

Hard Starting and Drivability Diagnostic

If your diesel engine is difficult to start, bring your vehicle in and we’ll be happy to perform a hard starting and drivability diagnostic. If you don’t know what’s making your engine hard to start, we can carefully look over its many parts and systems and help you identify the cause. If you suspect or know the cause, we can verify it for you and then provide a diesel engine repair.

Turbocharger Repair

If your turbocharger is acting strange, we invite you to bring it in for a diesel engine repair. Warning signs of impending turbocharger maintenance include a whining sound that grows louder at boost, the smell of burning oil, an excessive amount of smoke, and a noticeable decrease in power. A turbocharger may also be in danger of failing when it doesn’t receive enough lubrication, and improper lubrication can lead to carbon buildup. Likewise, small pieces of debris may make their way into the turbocharger and damage its components.